Flashlights: Reviews

FlashlightReviews.com: Flashlight enthusiast Doug Pribis reviews and rates hundreds of flashlights based on detailed technical tests, recommending the Photon Freedom Max as one of the top three single-LED flashlights for pocket use, partly because of its top-notch LED. (The more expensive voltage-regulated Arc AAA Premium (*est.

ImagoMetrics.com: Based on technical and practical tests, this review calls the Photon Freedom Micro flashlight the "best in its class," giving it top ratings for exceptional quality and performance.

BackpackingLight.com: Aimed at ultralight backpackers, this review tests the Photo Freedom LED flashlight for battery life and ease of use, finding that despite the microprocessor, brightness drops off sharply 30 minutes after a fresh battery is inserted.

Backpack Gear Test: An experienced backpacker and gear tester provides a detailed review of the Photon Freedom Max flashlight for hiking and campsite use, with photos showing where he clips or hangs it for various purposes.

Dan's Data: Written by an independent reviewer of PC hardware and gadgets, this detailed and well-illustrated review compares the Photon Freedom Max with other tiny flashlights.

FlashlightReviews.com: Flashlight enthusiast Doug Pribis reviews and rates hundreds of flashlights based on detailed technical tests, recommending the Fenix P2D-CE as the best "everyday carry" flashlight.

LEDMuseum.org: This review includes practical photos showing the size of the Fenix P2D-CE in relation to a hand, plus its beam width and brightness.

CPFReviews.com: This detailed, well-illustrated review gives the Fenix P2D CE especially high ratings for ease of use and value.

CandlePowerForums: In a forum devoted to flashlight enthusiasts, this well-illustrated review compares the Fenix P2D-CE with other Fenix flashlights, covering ease of use plus beam brightness, color, size and quality.

Amazon.com: The handful of owners reviewing the Fenix P2D-CE flashlight here give it rave reviews, with useful comparisons to other flashlights they've owned.

FlashlightReviews.com: The Streamlight ProPolymer 3C flashlight is the top pick among household flashlights at this highly technical review site, based on extensive tests.

Amazon.com: Only a handful of owners review the Streamlight ProPolymer 3C 33244 flashlight here, but they give it rave reviews, praising the brightness, beam quality and durability.

OpticsPlanet.net: Editors provide plenty of detail about the Streamlight ProPolymer 3C flashlight here, but the few owner-written reviews are especially useful.

ProfessionalEquipment.com: A handful of owners review the Streamlight ProPolymer 3C LED flashlight here.

DigitalReviews.net: This detailed hands-on review confirms that one minute of cranking the 5-LED Electrilite flashlight produces a light that's quite bright for 30 minutes, longer if you use fewer LEDs.

About.com/PC World: The Cell Phone Tips section of this article recommends the Electrilite flashlight for charging a cell phone.

PC Today: This article on wind-up emergency devices recommends the Electrilite flashlight for its compact size and unlimited cell phone charging, but notes that it doesn't charge all cell phones.

FlashlightMuseum.com: This brief review shows details of the wind-up Electrilite flashlight, with one reader commenting that he uses it to charge his cell phone in an emergency.

Kevin Kelley Cool Tools: Being recommended at this site carries some credibility, since Kevin Kelly, current editor at large for Wired magazine, edits it.

FlashlightReviews.com: Based on a number of tests, flashlight enthusiast Doug Pribis notes a few drawbacks to the Stanley MaxLife 369 Tripod flashlight, but gives it a "good" rating, calling it a "great utility light for around the house and fantastic for power outages."

Amazon.com: Over 70 owners review the Stanley Tripod flashlight here.

Kevin Kelley Cool Tools: Recommendations at this site carry some credibility, since Kevin Kelly is current editor-at-large for Wired magazine.

Lowes.com: About a dozen owners rate the Stanley Tripod flashlight here, giving it especially high ratings for design and ease of use.

webBikeWorld: This well-illustrated review explains in detail how the Stanley Tripod flashlight works, including the "parallel technology" that keeps the light levels consistent even when only three or six batteries are installed rather than nine.

LEDMuseum.org: This well-illustrated review includes results of a battery-discharge test, showing the solar-charged batteries run about six hours at full level, then fade to about 10 percent at 11 hours – but only if charged in direct sunlight.

GreenDealsDaily.com: This brief review gives the BoGo solar flashlight top ratings for value and quality, with slightly lower ratings for environmental-friendliness – perhaps because it doesn't use lithium-ion batteries.

Kevin Kelley Cool Tools: This reviewer likes to hang the BoGo solar flashlight over the bed for reading at night, saying it's plenty bright enough.

Vision Magazine: This moving article doesn't evaluate the BoGo solar flashlight for its performance, but makes a convincing case for the health and environmental benefits of using these flashlights and donating them to Third World villagers.

The New York Times: This article is not a product review. Instead, the feature describes outreach efforts in Africa to provide solar flashlights to impoverished Ethiopians and how the lights can make a huge difference in their health and safety.

Time magazine: This article covers the development of the new SuperBoGo Light with many improvements, including extra LEDs for illuminating a whole room.